I provide services as an autism researcher, trainer and consultant, expert witness, and freelance writer and editor from my base in the Netherlands, throughout the EU and the UK.

I am available as an autism and disability consultant, considering issues at the individual, service or policy level in a variety of areas, including housing, education and social care.

I have acted as an expert witness in several civil and criminal cases in reference to autism or other disabilities. This work has included:

determining how autism or a related condition may impact an individual’s behaviour, understanding, capacity for consent, or decision-making ability

evaluating staff training and working procedures, particularly those that may have contributed to avoidable staff or student/service user injury

evaluating education, support and care plans

advising courts and law firms on working supportively with witnesses, victims and defendants on the autism spectrum

I have testified in UK Crown Court, and can provide references upon request.

I am also a frequent conference speaker, and available for bespoke staff training sessions.

I have developed and provided training programmes for schools and services, ranging from the British Institute of Learning Disabilities (BILD) Level 3 training programme for education staff working in autism to Masters-level courses. I have co-authored national training resources for school staff in England.

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I am a speech-language pathologist in the U.S. and I am writing a grant proposal which will allow me to visit Amsterdam this summer. The focus of my visit is to observe how children with autism receive services and I’m planning to visit the Centre de Hartenberg to learn more about the use of Snoezelen rooms with students with autism. Do you have any thoughts on whom I might contact to visit places that serve children with autism in this way? I came across your article that mentioned Ark Stichting as a day center for children with autism. I would also consider schools, etc. if there are opportunities available. Any feedback would be most appreciated. Thank you for your time and consideration. Kerry Rice

Stichting Ark caters for children who are denied a school place (of whom there SHOULD be fewer and fewer since last year). I would certainly recommend getting in touch. You should contact the Dr Leo Kannerhuis, which is a national centre and can can give you some pointers about people to contact in the Amsterdam area (http://www.leokannerhuis.nl/)–their main office is not located in Amsterdam but they have a polyclinic here (http://www.leokannerhuis.nl/cli%C3%ABnten/aanbod-amsterdam/algemeen) that offers some services. Other services may be provided by ambulant care providers at home, or at school–schools are locally administrated but specialist services are regional, so get in touch with the Amsterdam education department ands the regional centre (links here: https://www.amsterdam.nl/onderwijs-jeugd/speciaal-onderwijs/). The NVA is the largest national organisation for parents of autistic children (analogous to the ASA in the US) and is also a good place to get started: http://www.autisme.nl/
Good luck with your project!

I heard about your book on Pervasive Developmental Disorders. I am a adult almost a senior citizen. Is your book only on kids with this problem. Have you any resources for me. I have had many misdiagnosis but a talented doctor reassessed me and this makes sense. Still it is hard.

Dear Kristi: I’m sorry that I missed your post, I had not checked my messages via WordPress for a long time! My book is geared towards parents of children/teens. I would look for books for adult women with autism spectrum disorders or Asperger syndrome – I think you will find much there that resonates with your life experiences! The most important thing is to accept your limitations (we all have some) but celebrate and build on your strengths. This may be detail-orientation and focus but may be creativity–your diagnosis can help to explain some things but you are more than a diagnosis 😉 I quite like Sarah Hendrickx’s work, amongst other authors. Best of luck–it’s never too late to get to know yourself better and have a happier life.

Hi,
How can I help? How is autism education in Amsterdam?
I am a parent, my son is 14 and a special education teacher specialized in autism too. Would like to work with parents to educate on behavior management techniques in different environments.
Any way I can help, especially in summer I would be honored.
Thanks.
Grace
Phoenix, Arizona
489 738 0264

Dear Grace:
Inclusive education is still in its infancy here, but it is quite hard to get permission to work in the Netherlands unless you are fluent in Dutch–you can apply for posts online, but they look for a specific degree form that is only offered in the Netherlands and Germany. The only option for an overseas teacher relocating here is either to retrain, having first completed a full Dutch course and passed the national NT2 language exam, or to seek work in an international (English-language) school–most of which do not accept children with significant special needs. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news!

I have seen a lot of your work and I wondered how I may be able to assist with working in Netherlands to educate and promote inclusive education and societal awareness. I have visited Amsterdam numerous times however in my last trip I took my autistic daughter who was unfortunately mistreated because her disability is hidden and not visible. I can not express my feelings. Nonetheless I know Amsterdam is a lovey place however I wanted to know what areas of work or titles of jobs I should be searching for to promote inclusion for hidden disabilities.

Dear Layla:
If you are an EU resident, there may be some opportunities in the Amsterdam area related to the ‘passend onderwijs’ initiative, which seeks to make Dutch schools more inclusive. This is a bit of an uphill battle: updates on progress can be found here: https://www.passendonderwijs.nl/ and elsewhere. There has certainly been a growth in the need for specialist teaching assistants and educators as a result, although the segregated Dutch education system is quite resistent to change.
There are somewhat fewer paid opportunities in community-based work, and these typically require specific qualifications e.g. a Dutch degree in sociaal werk/Sociaal Pedagogische Hulpverlening, jeugdbescherming (child protection). There are some policy posts now and then with national organisations such as the NVA.
best of luck with your efforts,
dr Mitzi Waltz

I am currently studying Sport Studies at the Hanze University in Groningen, Netherlands and I am doing a research involving the prevalence of patients suffering from Autism Spectrum Disorder. I would like to know if the number of patients suffering from ASD in your clinic is increasing or decreasing over the past few years.

I would appreciate any given information related to this matter. Thank you!

Dear Erik:
First, I’m not a clinician, I’m a researcher. Also, please be careful with your language use around autism: ‘suffering from ASD’ is a usage that people with autism generally would not appreciate 😉
There is no evidence for an increase in incidence of autism, but increased prevalance in a clinical population should currently be expected due to improved diagnosis (including newly diagnosed adults whose autism was not recognised in childhood) and, hopefully, increased life expectancy due to deinstitutionalisation. That said, there are still major issues with health disparities and inequalities for people with autism–although autism should have no impact on life expectancy, there is a large and measurable problem, presumably due to lack of treatment for non-related medical problems, poor institutional care, poor community care, abuse/neglect, and suicide due to depression (which often relates to the other factors mentioned). Those working in clinical practice need to be aware of these issues, and may need to make adjustments to clinical practice to address them–for example, considering how they communicate with and provide information and therapeutic services to people with autism. The recent Westminster Autism Commissoin report, which draws on research from the UK and Sweden, is a useful starting point: https://westminsterautismcommission.files.wordpress.com/2016/03/ar1011_ncg-autism-report-july-2016.pdf
I hope this reply is helpful–please feel free to contact me again if you have questions.
Regards,
dr Mitzi Waltz